Allu Arjun team denies 42 rules allegations, warns of legal action

Tollywood’s style icon Allu Arjun is at the centre of one of the most talked‑about entertainment controversies this week, and the story has taken more twists than a movie plot. After a brand strategist claimed on a Sweekriti Talks podcast that meeting the Pushpa star meant following a bizarre “42 dos and don’ts” list - including no eye contact or handshakes before seeing him - the actor’s camp has hit back hard, calling the allegations completely baseless and untrue and launching defamation action against those involved.

The viral claim originated when brand strategist Kaveri Baruah described her encounter with Allu Arjun and his team, claiming she was handed the strict rules ahead of their interaction, and even suggesting multiple layers of managers oversaw the process. The clip spread like wildfire on social media, drawing both criticism of the star and fierce defence from his fans.

In response, Allu Arjun’s official handle shared a pointed statement saying that the recent comments were “ completely baseless and untrue ” and that he has always carried himself with dignity and respect. The note stressed the seriousness of the situation as his legal team initiates defamation proceedings against those spreading what the team calls “misinformation,” urging the public to avoid sharing unverified content.

The controversy didn’t end there. After the podcast video was pulled down from social platforms, the Sweekriti Talks host alleged she and her guest faced “ coordinated harassment ” online and blasted Allu Arjun’s PR machinery as “sheer losers” while defending the discussion as factual.

Not everyone has stayed silent in the face of the storm. Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 co‑star Rajsekhar Aningi took to social media to defend the star, calling the “rules” narrative “purely cheap publicity” and sharing anecdotes about Arjun’s humble behaviour on set - even down to eating from a shared basin with spot boys during breaks, a gesture of camaraderie rather than celebrity distance.

Amid all the drama, Allu Arjun’s professional life continues at full tilt. He is deep into shooting for his highly anticipated next project, tentatively titled AA23 , directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj , whose Lokesh Cinematic Universe has been behind some of Indian cinema’s biggest hits. The filmmakers recently dropped a teaser video that introduced the core team and featured a booming theme track titled “ 23 Theme ,” with lyrics fans believe cleverly nod to Arjun’s massive box office success with Pushpa 2: The Rule.